Latvian Churches Say Poll Result Boosts Christian Voices In Legislature

Church representatives in Latvia say a recent victory by center-right parties in parliamentary elections that also saw a strong showing by a new party supporting Christian values should result in a “more sympathetic attitude” to Christians in the former Soviet republic.

“People were dissatisfied with the present government and wanted significant changes; it’s a good sign that half the new parliament will be composed of new faces,” said Dzintas Laugalis, a spokesman for Latvia’s Evangelical Lutheran church. “Having received no support at all from previous governments, the churches can now expect help in a range of areas under more sympathetic rulers.”

The Riga-based pastor was speaking after the October 5 election had endorsed Latvia’s newly formed New Times party as the leading group. There was also a strong showing by the country’s First Party, which had campaigned on “Christian values” and was led by Eriks Jekabsons, a Lutheran pastor and former kickboxer.

Laugalis said Latvian voters had supported their country’s plans to join NATO and the European Union, but had also sent a message that they wanted tough action against rampant crime and corruption.

He noted that religious education at state schools and improved financial support from the state would be priorities for the Lutheran church, whose 300 congregations make up 13 percent of Latvia’s population of 2.34 million, compared to 9 percent of the population who declare themselves Roman Catholic and 6 percent who belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The head of Latvia’s Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Janis Pujats, also welcomed the “change of direction” offered by the election, and predicted the churches’ situation would improve.

“Although there could be problems balancing the parties in parliament, our country’s basic pro-Western direction won’t change,” said Pujats.

“The unexpected support given to Christian politicians, despite an initial lack of response, will provide some much-needed Christian voices among legislators,” said the cardinal, who chairs Latvia’s Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

In an ecumenical service on September 17 in the capital’s Roman Catholic St Jakeb Cathedral, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Baptist leaders had urged voters to be guided by moral and spiritual values, and deplored the lack of concern for poor citizens under the ruling party of former premier Andris Berzins, called Latvian Way, which although the country’s longest-serving party, failed to win any seats.

Some news commentators speculated that a place in government could be gained for the First Party, which pledged to combat the “atheisation of society” and tighten controls over abortion. Dubbed the “Priests’ Party”, it garnered the fifth highest tally of votes, for 10 parliamentary seats, with support rocketing from 2 percent to 9.6 percent in a fortnight.